Domestic Girlfriend is, most often than not, labeled as an “enjoyable mess”, a “dumpster fire”, among others. While I do think everyone’s entitled to have their opinion and share it as they see fit, I also feel like sharing mine: DomeKano, for me, is a spectacular romance with poignant drama, captivating story, and memorable characters which develop relationships that one cannot stop thinking about.

At the center of our tale is Natsuo Fujii, an adolescent boy whose first love and first sexual partner end up becoming his half-sisters. Putting it like that, it’s an off the wall premise, for sure, but the building block it sets gives the story such a range to explore that new and ever-changing context. This context building is, in my opinion, done flawlessly, as the show wastes no time in establishing this premise, doing so with clever directing and pace. This is a standard that’s set in the beginning and never abandoned: this anime wastes no time, and the history progresses naturally and aptly. Each and every event presents some kind of substance to the whole show, doing so in different ways.

If I had to resume DomeKano in a sentence, it would be: an analysis on impulsivity. I feel that impulsivity is at the front and center of our tale and each of its aspects. Rui feels the impulse to have her first sexual experience with Natsuo;

Spoiler, click to view

Natsuo feels the impulse to kiss Hina shortly after they start living together; even Momo - a character that, although not prevalent throughout most of the show, has a great and emotionally touching arc - feels the need to constantly be in a relationship;

among many other examples. What happens throughout the show is an escalation of the consequences of impulsivity, as we see the characters getting plunged into situations ranging from inconvenient to devastating because of it. This is, in my estimation, one element that connects the characters, and assists the plot’s seamless flow towards its ending. It’s almost like a snowball effect, an ever-increasing amount of tension that gets released in such a melancholy manner.

Spoiler, click to view

One scene that really stuck with me is the one where Hina and Natsuo are discussing the future of their relationship while on the beach, and Hina labels their relationship as a “double suicide”, prompting Natsuo on whether or not he has the resolve to commit such an act, even if metaphorically. I feel that this remotes to my previous point, that the decisions made impulsively ultimately end up having catastrophic consequences, all the while having that assertive atmosphere of melancholy and sadness, unveiled by the fateful curtain of taboo.

It’s hard for me to talk about the characters in a vacuum, try as I might. In Domestic Girlfriend, the characters themselves are memorable, for sure, but not out of the ordinary, although I really like Rui’s personality: that blunt attitude laced underneath with kindness and innocence, to a degree. What happens in this show, however, is a synergy of the characters, culminating in volatile relationships which are presented to the utmost degree of perfection. The tension in some scenes is really exhilarating, and the whole show just progresses naturally and flawlessly.

Regarding the technical aspects of the anime, they’re also commendable. The direction is competent, having a very creative spark occasionally, and the pacing is spectacular throughout the whole show, translating itself into an experience which has no dull moments. The art is very good, abundant with vibrant lighting, sometimes establishing a warm atmosphere oozing with sexual tension, other times displaying a preponderance of cold tones, to reflect the situations and feelings - most often of isolation - of the characters. The soundtrack is very much notable, as it’s packed to the brim with great themes: some jazzy undertones, some minimal compositions, and some crushingly sad piano pieces. Also, we must not forget to mention the OP, which might be one of the greatest songs used for an anime opening in history. I’m dead serious when I say that it gives me chills every time I listen to it.

To conclude, I’ll say this: DomeKano is what many romance anime have attempted and failed to be, a thrilling experience which leaves the viewer craving for more at the end of each episode. It’s a tour-de-force on the romance genre, with its apt explorations of taboo subjects, volatile personalities and relationships. You might feel I’m reading to deep into this show, and I probably am - these might read as random ramblings more than a review, in fact. One thing’s for certain, though: you can say a lot of things, good or bad, regarding DomeKano, but you can’t say it’s boring.